Changing Results to Change Results: Nudging Antimicrobial Prescribing for Clostridium difficile.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients who test positive for Clostridium difficile by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with a negative toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA), are commonly colonized and do not require treatment. However, clinicians often treat based on a positive PCR result regardless of the toxin EIA result. We evaluated the clinical impact of a microbiology reporting nudge, changing from a report that included both assay results along with treatment recommendations to one that suggested clinicians consider C difficile colonization or early infection.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adult patients admitted to a large multisite community hospital with a positive C difficile PCR result and negative toxin EIA from January 1, 2016 to June 30,

SUBMITTER: Herman DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8176399 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature